In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine countless volunteers, as well as many international humanitarian actors, including the United Nations system, national and international NGOs, and other international organizations, are engaged in the humanitarian relief effort. In December 2014 the cluster system was activated, with 7 clusters engaging in life-saving activities throughout the country. This 3W (WHO is doing WHAT WHERE) captures the presence of partners currently on the ground in each oblast.

• WFP has extended its one-year PRRO to additionally cover two winter months in 2018, delivering critical assistance to the most vulnerable in eastern Ukraine. WFP is planning to provide assistance to at least 13,000 people of the most vulnerable in eastern Ukraine, through cash and vouchers to purchase food till end of February 2018.

This Quarterly Update covers the activities of the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) between 1 October and 31 December 2017. It is also available online www. internal-displacement.org

Eastern Ukraine has been in a humanitarian crisis since March 2014, when armed conflict erupted between separatists and Ukrainian armed forces. Separatists now control most of eastern Donetsk region, and a small area of southern Luhansk region.

For more than three years, restrictions on freedom of movement and the transfer of goods imposed by the Government of Ukraine at checkpoints along the contact line have required civilians to expose themselves to security risks, long queues, and other physical challenges, further dividing a once-integrated community.

The total number of officially registered IDPs has decreased substantially in November (by over 109,000 people).

Even IDP pensioners permanently registered in the Government Controlled Areas (GCA) cannot receive pensions without IDP registration: Most departments of the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) refuse to provide pensions to these IDPs without IDP registration.
Therefore, these IDPs continue renewing their IDP registration solely to receive their pensions.

As at end December 2017, UN-coordinated appeals and refugee response plans within the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) required US$24.7 billion to meet the humanitarian needs of 105.1 million crisis-affected people in 38 countries. Together the appeals were funded at $13.8 billion, or 54% of requirements. Funding for the appeals in 2017 fell 46% short of requirements, with $10.9 billion outstanding.

The WASH Cluster was informed that at 8:30 am (Kyiv time), 31st December, Golmivskyi Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) was de-energized due to shelling. A power cable, which connects the substation to the power line to the WWTP was damaged. The cable was repaired a few days later with no environmental discharge.

Shortage of public resources in Ukrainian health sector magnified by inefficiencies

New study by World Bank UNDP and Kyiv School of Economics

Evidence has shown that the shortage of public resources in the Ukrainian health sector is magnified by their inefficient use. Health-sector spending is biased toward hospital services, rather than low-cost preventive care. A non-transparent parallel out-of-pocket fee system risks compromising access to treatment for Ukrainian patients.

In 2014, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued a decree restricting the right to pensions and social benefits of citizens of Ukraine residing in the government designated “area of anti-terrorist operations” in eastern Ukraine. At the end of 2016, around 400,000 people in eastern Ukraine did not have access to their pensions.

In November 2014, the Government of Ukraine took a decision to stop payment of pensions and social payments to the citizens remaining in non-government controlled areas. The Government of Ukraine should provide all citizens, irrespective of their location in the country, with access to their earned entitlements.

In search of potential mechanisms to provide pensions for citizens living in non-government controlled areas, the experience of other countries of the region may prove useful. In this regard, one of the most relevant examples may be Georgia.

Armed conflict in eastern Ukraine has damaged and destructed 17.000 houses and displaced 1.6 million people. There's a need for adequate procedures of restitution and compensation for loss of rights, value, use and access to housing, land and property.